extinction debt

Extinction debt refers to the future loss of species due to past environmental changes or habitat destruction. Although some species might still be present, their populations are declining or fragmented, making extinction inevitable over time. Essentially, the damage done now means that these species are "committed" to going extinct eventually, even if they haven't disappeared yet. It highlights the lag between environmental impact and the full loss of species, emphasizing the importance of early conservation to prevent inevitable extinctions.